Dozens hurt in sixth day of protests

At least 31 people were injured Saturday in Antananarivo during protests in support of former president Marc Ravalomanana.Police on Saturday fired warning shots and teargas at supporters of Madagascar's ousted president Marc Ravalomanana as they rallied for a sixth consecutive day of protest, leaving 31 people injured.Officers took action to prevent around 20,000 protestors who had gathered at gardens in the capital Antananarivo to march to another city square.

The May 13 Square to which they were headed was earlier the scene of protests by former opposition leader Andry Rajoelina that culminated in Ravalomanana's March 17 resignation.Most of those hurt suffered injuries in a stampede sparked by the warning shots. Others had bullet wounds and were being treated at Antananarivo's main hospital, an AFP correspondent reported.Saturday's rally attracted the largest number of protestors since the group opposing the current administration of Andry Rajoelina began city demonstrations on Monday.Ravalomanana's supporters are demanding the return of their leader who resigned after the sustained campaign by his rival Rajoelina who accused him of running a dictatorship while the people starved.Last weekend, the 34-year-old Rajoelina was sworn in as the Indian Ocean island's transitional leader, but Ravalomanana, United States and the European Union have said his takeover was a coup.The African Union has also suspended the crisis-stricken nation from the 53-member body.